Adjustable bracket for the air tube of an ice can



F. 1. CLARK 2,016,073

ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR THE AIR TUBE OF AN ICE CAN Original Filed Feb. 3, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor q 7111111. U III/ll By Attorney F. n. CLARK ,.%,73

ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR THE AIR TUBE OF AN ICE CAN Original Filed Feb. 5, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor fiadf 6747 5 m. L, 1935. F. 11. QLARK fi xfi ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR THE AIR TUBE OF AN ICE CAN Original Filed Feb. 3, 19 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I. "i 5 1 q I r v I /m I k 5 7 i 5 i I l l 3 4 /0 6' I g I] Z l -1L f 6 /4- Inventm Frediiiaflz,

Patented Oct. 1, 1935 .A'iEN'i' or es ADJUSTABLE BRACKET FOR THE AIR TUBE OF AN ICE CAN Fred I. Clark, Oklahoma City, Okla., assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, to Frick Company, Waynesboro, Pa.

Application February 3, 1934, Serial No. 709,654 Renewed May 31, 1935 14 Claims.

This invention relates to an adjustable bracket for supporting the air delivery tube of an ice can, the general object of the invention being to provide means for supporting an air tube used in an ice can so that the tube will be supported adjacent the lower end of the can during the early part of the freezing action and holding the tube in a raised position for the rest of the freezing period.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the bracket can be adjusted without detaching it from the tube or changing the vertical position of the tube and without cutting off the air or disconnecting the air fitting.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction .and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-- v

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the upper part of an ice can, showing the invention in use for holding the tube in lowered position.

Figure 2 is a View looking toward the device and the tube, with that wall of the can to which the device is attached shown in fragmentary elevation, and this view also shows how the tube can be swung to different positions.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the bracket in position to support the tube in raised position,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the can engaging part of the bracket.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 3, but showing a part of the can in plan view.

Figure '7 is a sectional view through the inner end of the bracket.

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Figure '7. Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 7. As is well known, air is delivered into an ice can during the freezing operation for the pur- 50 pose of agitating the water during the freezing time of the ice. The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the tube is held in lowered position to start the agitation of the water near the bottom of the can during the early part 55 of the freezing action and then to permit the tube to be raised just before the tube is frozen into the ice.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a bracket A which is formed of a substantially H base part l composed of two parallel plates l and 5 a connecting piece I", this connecting piece being of considerably less width than the width of the plates, as shown in Figure 5, and the inner plate is formed with the upper and lower centrally arranged notches 2 for engaging the hol- 10 low bead 3 formed in the interior part of the can. The bracket also includes an arm 4 which has its free part formed with a double curve, with the free extremity of the armhorizontally arranged.

A block 5 is formed with a stem 6 of circular 15 shape in cross section and which is provided with an annular groove 1 and the horizontal part of the arm is provided with a socket 8 for receiving the stem and a pin I!) passes through the horizontal part of the arm and through the groove 20 1 of the stem 6 to rotatably hold the stem in the socket, thus permitting rotary movement of the block. The block has an opening or hole ll therein through which the tube l2 passes, this tube being part of the air system for supplying 25 air to the ice can for agitating the water as the same is freezing.

During the first part of the freezing action, where it is desired to hold the tube with its lower end adjacent the bottom of the can, the 30 bracket is placed in the position it occupies in Figures 1 and 2, with the curved parts extending downwardly. Then when it is desired to raise the tube, the bracket is turned over so that it will occupy the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 and 35 thus the tube is raised. As will be seen, the positions of the bracket can be changed without removing the tube or shutting oil the air therefrom as the block 5 will remain in a position holding the tube vertically while the bracket is 40 being turned, due to the stem 6 of the block being rotatably arranged in the socket at the outer end of the arm.

The H-shaped base of the bracket will permit the bracket to be supported on the edge of 45 the can in either one of its two positions and the notches 2 engaging the bead of the can will prevent sliding movement of the bracket and as this bead is arranged centrally in the can, by placing the bracket over the bead, the bracket is centrally arranged. The tube can be oscillated, as shown in full and dotted lines in Figure 2, such oscillation being produced by air discharged from the tube which upon escaping will impart a swinging movement to the tube, or the oscillation can be produced in any other desired manner.

By the use of this invention, a better quality of ice is produced, as well as a saving in the cost of production. By holding the air tube in a position to deliver the air to the bottom of the can at the starting'oi the freezing action, white butts are avoided and the raising of the air tube just before it freezes'into theblock makes a clearer cake of ice. This invention also renders it unnecessary to pullthe cans the second time, as is now required, which results in a saving of time and labor and also of water and power.

7 It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel'features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an ice can and a tube for supplying air into the same, a bracket com" prising a base portion for engaging an edge of the can and an arm connected to the base portion and having its free end offset from that portion which is connected to the base, a tube holding block rotatably connected with said free end, and means whereby the base can be reversed in position on the can edge to have the offset portion extend downwardly or upwardly.

2. In combination. with an ice can and an air tube for supplying air into the same, a bracket g including avertically arranged base portion of substantially H-shape providing a pair of vertically aligned recesses, either one of which is adapted to engage a portion of the upper edge of the can, an arm having one end connected with a side part of the base, said arm having its free end offset vertically from the rest of the arm, a tube supporting block, and means for rotatably connecting the same with the said free end of the arm.

3. In combination with'an ice can and an air tube for supplying air into the same, a bracket including a vertically arranged base portion of substantially H-shape providing a pair of vertically aligned recesses, either one of which is adapted to engage a portion of the upper edge of the can, an arm having one end connected. with a side part of the base, said arm having its free end offset vertically from the rest of the arm, a tube supporting block, means for rotatably connecting the same'with the said free end of the arm, the inner side member of the base having upper and lower notches therein for engaging an internal bead of the can.

4. In combination with an ice can and a tube for supplying air into the same, a bracket comprising a base portion for engaging the can and an arm connected to the base portion and having its free end offset from that part which is connected to the base, means for connecting the tube to the bracket adjacent its free end, and means whereby the position of the bracket may be changed to vary the elevation at which the tube is supported. 7

5. A bracket constructed to fit upon an ice can and be disposed in a plurality of positions for supporting an air agitator tube at a plurality of elevations.

6. A supporting device for a tube through which air is supplied to an ice can for agitating water within the can to produce clear freezing of the water, said supporting device being constructed manner to be supported by 'the can in a plurality of positions for supporting the tube at a plurality of elevations.

'7. A bracket for attachment to an ice can an constructed to support a tube for supplying air to said ice can at a plurality of elevations. V

8. A supporting device for an agitator tube for an ice can, having means at one end for detachable engagement with the ice can, and having means at its other end for connecting the upper end of the agitatortube'thereto to support the tube at a plurality of elevations.

'9. A supporting device for agitator tubes for ice cans, having means at one end for detachable engagement with the ice can, and having means at its other end for pivotally connecting the upper end of the agitator tube thereto, said device being constructed to support the'tube ata plurality of elevations.

10. A supporting device for agitator tubes for ice cans, having means at one end for detachable engagement with the ice can and having means at its other end for pivotally connecting the upper end of the agitator tube thereto in a manner to permit the tube to swing but restraining swinging movement of the tube save in one plane, said device being constructed to support the tube at a plurality of elevations.

for detachable engagement with an ice can in a 11. A supporting device for agitator tubes for for supporting the agitator tube at a plurality of' elevations.

12. An air agitating device for ice cans comprising a support, means for positioning said support temporarily on the ice can, an air agitator tube provided with means for connection with an air supply and connected to said support by a hinge connection whereby said tube is adapted to swing bodily on said support, and means for supporting said tube at a plurality of elevations.

13. In a refrigerating system, an ice can, a support for an air agitator tube including a horizontal'pivot, an air agitator tube mounted to swing freely on said pivot, and an air'supply connected to said tube for supplying air thereto under pressure whereby said tube has a swinging impulse imparted thereto by the discharge of air I therefrom, and means for supporting said tube at a plurality of elevations. r

for supporting an agitator tube, said supporting device being constructed to support the agitator.

tube at a plurality of elevations within said ice can whereby when the ice is partially formed the tube may be raised in the can.

FRED I. CLARK. 

